Feeding and Watering
Handling
Care
Housing
The best way to keep a budgie is in a large aviary with other budgies, but most people keep their budgie indoors in a cage.
If you keep your budgie indoors, get the biggest cage possible or use an indoor aviary as many budgies are kept in cages that are far too small. Tall circular cages are not recommended, as they provide very little flying space, and a rectangular one with vertical and horizontal bars is better, as this will let your budgie climb around the cage.
Position
Keep the cage off the floor and away from drafts. Also avoid bright lights, as these can damage your budgie's eyes. Never keep your budgie's cage in front of a window, as this can cause fatal heat stroke. The cage should have a cover for the night to keep your budgie warm and to let your budgie have a regular rest. Some cages are kept suspended from a stand, but this can be unstable and get knocked over, so putting your budgie's cage on a steady table might be better.
Fittings
Most cages come with food pots and it is best to have a separate drinker attached to the cage bars. Clip a cuttlefish bone onto the cage so your budgies can keep their beaks in shape, and provide grit to help with your budgies' digestion. Remove old seed husks each day and wash out the water container at least once a week. You can use a bottlebrush, but be careful that you don't push it down the drinker too hard as this can split the container. Put special sanded paper over the base of the cage and change the paper two or three times a week. Shop bought sand sheets can be expensive, so you can use clean plain paper cut to fit the cage base, covered with loose bird sand. Don't use coloured paper or printed paper, as some of the inks can be poisonous to a budgie.
Put different sized wooden perches in the cage to provide mental stimulation. These should preferably be cut from bark covered branches from native British hardwoods or fruit trees. Although they can't be cleaned as easily as the dowel-type perches, they can be regularly replaced.
